Slide Hammer Stake Driver

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a steel outer tubular sleeve cooperating with an inner steel rod that is dimensioned to slide relative to the outer sleeve. In a first embodiment, a steel slug is welded in the sleeve at its upper end and designed to strike an upper end of the inner steel rod. In an alternative embodiment, the steel slug is welded in the sleeve at its lower end and designed to be struck by the lower end of the inner steel rod. Completing the assembly is an attachment member that in the first embodiment is removably attached to the lower end of the inner steel rod and that in the alternative embodiment is removably attached to the lower end of the outer tubular member. The attachment member is designed to hold a stake of a given cross-sectional dimension.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to the filing date ofprovisional application Ser. No. 61/327,777, filed Apr. 26, 2010, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hand tools to be used in landdevelopment, construction and landscaping industries for placing markerstakes and the like in the ground, and more particularly to a slidehammer style apparatus that can be used to drive stakes into the groundfrom an upright position.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

In laying out plots of land for housing and commercial buildingdevelopment, surveyors, construction workers and landscaping personnelare frequently required to lay out boundaries, guidelines and othermarkers using wooden, plastic and metal stakes that must be pounded intothe ground. Typically, a carpenter's hammer may be used to drive thestake into the ground which requires the user to assume a kneelingposition next to the stake at least within arms reach thereof. Withrelatively dry, compact earth, the stake driving operation may requireseveral hammer strokes and the stake is often fragmented or the endmushroomed by the repeated hammer blows.

Accordingly, a need exists for a way to drive stakes into the groundfrom a more comfortable standing position and which will not split andfragment the stake as it is being driven into the earth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a slide hammer stake driver kit in whichan elongated outer tubular member with upper and lower ends has an innerrod member reciprocally slidable therein, the inner rod also havingfirst and second ends. A resilient, shock-absorbing handle grip isaffixed to an upper end portion of one of the outer tubular member andthe inner rod member. A weighted anvil is disposed within the outertubular member proximate either the upper or the lower ends thereof Theanvil adapted to be impacted by one of the ends of the inner rod memberupon reciprocal up and down strokes of the outer tubular member withrespect to the inner rod member. Completing the kit is a plurality ofattachment members that can be individually, removably connected to thelower end of either the outer tubular member or the inner rod member.These attachment members comprise a hollow parallelepipeds defining achamber having an open bottom and each adapted to contain a stake of adifferent cross-sectional shape and dimension.

In use, a particular attachment member corresponding to thecross-sectional shape of the stake to be driven is affixed to a lowerend portion of one of the outer tubular member or the inner rod memberand with the upper end of the stake inserted into the hollow chamber.The user will then reciprocally stroke the inner rod member relative tothe outer tubular member to deliver impacts to the attachment member andthus to the stake to drive it into the ground. Because the upper end ofthe stake is confined in the hollow chamber as it is forced into theground, there is less tendency for the stake to mushroom or splinter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment where like numerals in the severalviews refer to corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial broken-away view of the upper end portion of theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the components of a typical slide hammer stake driverkit in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This description of the preferred embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description of this invention. In thedescription, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”,“vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom” as wellas derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”,etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then describedor as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms arefor convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus beconstructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as“connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “join” and “joining”are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface beingsecured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in onepiece, unless expressively described otherwise.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a slide hammer stake driveris indicated generally by numeral 10 and is seen to comprise an outersteel tubular member 12 having a relatively soft, plastic handgrip 14covering an upper end portion of the tubular member 12. Reciprocallyslidable within the lumen of the outer tubular member 12 is a steelinner rod member 16 and fastened to a lower end of rod member 16 is anattachment member 18 in the form of a hollow rectangular parallelepipedwith an open bottom end 20, a closed upper end and a tubular socket 22projecting longitudinally from the upper closed end thereof. The socket22 is dimensioned so as to slidingly fit over the bottom end of theinner rod member 16. An aperture is drilled diametrically through thesocket 22 and the lower end portion of the inner rod member 16 such thata fastener 24, such as a bolt, may pass through the aligned holes tosecure the attachment member 18 to the lower end of the inner rod member16.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a wooden or plastic stake 26 of a generallyrectangular cross-section is fitted into the chamber of the attachmentmember 18 via its open end 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, which shows the upper end portion of the assemblyof FIG. 1, the handgrip 14 preferably comprises an elastomeric sleeveexhibiting a relatively high coefficient of friction. Contained withinthe upper end of the outer tubular member 12 is a weighted anvil 28 thatis designed to impact an upper end of the inner rod member 16. The anvilpreferably comprises a steel plug of a predetermined length and weightfitted into the upper end portion of the outer tubular member 12. Fromwhat has thus far been described, those skilled in the art willappreciate that in use the stake 26 will be fitted into the attachmentmember 18 with a pointed end of the stake (not shown) abutting theground surface. Next, the user will grip the handgrip 14 with one handwhile steadying the tool 10 with his other hand to hold it in a verticalorientation. The outer tubular member will be raised upward and thenforcefully thrust downward such that the upper end of the inner rodmember 16 is impacted by the anvil 28 to deliver a substantial downwardforce to the inner rod member 16 and to the stake. Repeated strokes willserve to drive the stake into the ground. Once firmly placed in theground, the tool is lifted from the exposed end of the stake leaving thestake in place.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slide hammer stake driver kit including the slidehammer assembly 10 of FIG. 1 and a plurality of attachments 30-36. Eachof these attachments is designed to be fastened to the lower end of theinner rod member 16 in the manner previously described. The hollow,rectangular, parallelepiped attachments 30 and 32 are designed fordriving stakes having a generally rectangular cross-section of differingdimensions. Attachments 34 and 36 are more particularly designed fordriving stakes of square or round cross-section.

With no limitation intended, the outer tubular member may have an outerdiameter of 1 9/16^(th) inches and an inner diameter of 1⅜^(th) inchesand be about 28½inches in length. The anvil 28 may be about 4½ incheslong.

Again, without limitation, the inner rod member 16 be about 39 inches inlength and 1 5/16^(th) inches in diameter. The combined weight of theouter tubular member and the inner rod member with the attachment 30affixed to the lower end of the inner rod member may total about 15pounds. The outer tubular member 12 with its inner anvil 28 typicallyweights about 8 pounds. Given the length of stroke achievable, theweights involved and the speed of descent of the outer tubular memberwith respect to the inner rod member, it can be seen that a substantialmomentum force may be delivered to the stake to force it into theground.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the slide hammer stakedriver of the present invention. It is indicated generally by numeral 40and again includes an outer tubular member 42 and an inner rod member 44whose upper end 46 extends out beyond the upper end 48 of the outertubular member 42. The upper end of the inner rod member 46 is alsopreferably coated or otherwise covered with a resilient elastomericsheath 49 exhibiting anon-slip characteristic. Disposed within the lumenof the outer tubular member 42 proximate its lower end is an anvilmember 50 that is welded in place within the outer tubular member andprojects downward beyond the lower end 52 of the outer tubular member42.

Fastened to the lower end portion 54 of the anvil member 50 is anattachment 56 like one of those shown in the view of FIG. 3. It has achamber of rectangular cross-section, an open bottom 58 and a closedupper end 60 to which is welded a socket member 62 for receiving thelower end portion 54 of the anvil 50 therein. A through-bolt, as at 64,is used to releasably secure the attachment 56 to the anvil 50.

In FIG. 4, the outer tubular member 42 is broken away to show how thelower end portion 44 of the inner rod member cooperates with the anvil50 to deliver a downward blow to the upper end of a stake placed withinthe chamber of the attachment 56. More particularly, in use, theoperator will grasp the handle portion 46 with one hand and the outertubular member 42 with his/her other hand and then will slidingly raisethe inner tubular member upwards for a given distance, such that thelower end of the inner rod member 44 is a foot or so above the surfaceof the anvil 50. Then, the user will forcefully thrust the inner tubularmember 44 downward causing the lower end thereof to impact the anvil andthereby deliver a downward driving force on a stake positioned withinthe attachment member 56.

In implementing the embodiment of FIG. 4, the outer tubular member maybe about 33 inches in length and the overall length of the inner rodmember less its handle may be about 34 inches in length. The handleportion of the inner rod member 44 extending out beyond the upper end ofthe outer tubular member 42 may be approximately 10 inches in length.

The weight of the inner rod member preferably is about 7 pounds, whichhas been found to be effective in delivering an impact force to a stakesufficient to drive it into the earth as repeated strokes are deliveredvia the raising and forceful lowering of the inner rod member 44 againstthe anvil 50 to which the attachment 56 is connected.

This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in theart with the information needed to apply the novel principles and toconstruct and use such specialized components as are required. However,it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out byspecifically different equipment and devices, and that variousmodifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can beaccomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

1. A slide hammer stake driver comprising, in combination: (a) anelongated outer tubular member having upper and lower ends; (b) an innerrod member reciprocably slidable within the outer tubular member andhaving upper and lower ends; (c) a handle grip affixed to an upper endportion of one of the outer tubular member and inner rod member; (d) aweighted anvil disposed within the outer tubular member proximate one ofsaid upper and lower ends adapted to be impacted by one of the ends ofthe inner rod member upon a reciprocal stroke of the outer tubularmember with respect to the inner rod member; and (e) an attachmentremovably connected to one of the lower ends of the outer tubular memberand the inner rod member, the attachment comprising a hollow tubularmember with an open lower end for receiving a stake of a predeterminedsize and cross-sectional shape.
 2. The slide hammer stake driver ofclaim 1 wherein the attachment is removably fastened to the lower end ofthe outer tubular member and the handle grip is affixed to the upper endportion of the inner rod member.
 3. The slide hammer stake driver ofclaim 1 wherein the attachment is removably fastened to the lower end ofthe inner rod member and the handle grip is affixed to the upper end ofthe outer tubular member.
 4. The slide hammer stake driver of claim 2wherein said attachment includes a socket portion affixed to an upperclosed end thereof, the socket dimensioned and shaped to mate with thelower end of the outer tubular member and secured by a bolt passingthrough aligned transversely extending holes in a lower end portion ofthe outer tubular member and the socket portion of the attachment. 5.The slide hammer stake driver of claim 3 wherein said attachmentincludes a socket portion affixed to an upper closed end thereof, thesocket dimensioned and shaped to mate with the bottom lower end of theinner rod member and secured by a bolt passing through alignedtransversely extending holes in a lower portion of the inner rod memberand the socket portion of the attachment.
 6. The slide hammer stakedriver of any one of claims 1 through 4 wherein the attachment has arectangular cross-section.
 7. The slide hammer stake driver of claim 2wherein the handle grip is of a larger diameter than a remainder of theinner rod member.
 8. The slide hammer stake driver of claim 7 whereinthe anvil is disposed in the outer tubular member proximate the lowerend thereof.
 9. The slide hammer stake driver of claim 3 wherein theanvil is disposed in the outer tubular member proximate an upper endportion thereof.
 10. A slide hammer stake driver kit comprising: (a) anelongated outer tubular member having upper and lower ends; (b) an innerrod member reciprocably slidable within the outer tubular member andhaving first and second ends; (c) a handle grip affixed to an upper endportion of one of the outer tubular member and inner rod member; (d) aweighted anvil disposed within the outer tubular member proximate one ofsaid upper and lower ends adapted to be impacted by one of the ends ofthe inner rod member upon a reciprocal stroke of the outer tubularmember with respect to the inner rod member; and (e) a plurality ofattachment members adapted to be individually removably connected to oneof the lower ends of the outer tubular member and the inner rod member,each of the plurality of attachment members comprising a hollow chamberwith an open bottom and each adapted to contain a stake of a differentcross-sectional shape and dimension.
 11. The slide hammer stake driverof claim 10 wherein the attachment is removably fastened to the lowerend of the outer tubular member and the handle grip is affixed to theupper end portion of the inner rod member.
 12. The slide hammer stakedriver of claim 10 wherein the attachment is removably fastened to thelower end of the inner rod member and the handle grip is affixed to theupper end of the outer tubular member.
 13. The slide hammer stake driverof claim 11 wherein said attachment includes a socket portion affixed toan upper closed end thereof, the socket dimensioned and shaped to matewith the lower end of the outer tubular member and secured by a boltpassing through aligned transversely extending holes in a lower endportion of the outer tubular member and the socket portion of theattachment.
 14. The slide hammer stake driver of claim 12 wherein saidattachment includes a socket portion affixed to an upper closed endthereof, the socket dimensioned and shaped to mate with the bottom lowerend of the inner rod member and secured by a bolt passing throughaligned transversely extending holes in a lower portion of the inner rodmember and the socket portion of the attachment.
 15. A slide hammerstake driver kit as in claim 10 wherein the handle grip comprises anelastomeric sheath.